The Economist criticizes Colombia's president over earthquake response

The Economist has sharply criticized Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella for his handling of the transition and the response to the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10, highlighting stark regional disparities. The magazine argues that de la Espriella's decision to skip the formal handover process with outgoing President Gustavo Petro left his administration without critical information and capabilities, forcing it to rely heavily on local governments Source: lasillavacia. This proved particularly problematic in Chocó, the poorest department and epicenter of the quake, where 80% of the area lacks electricity and the epicenter remains isolated four days later Source: lasillavacia.

Regional divide

The earthquake exposed "two very different Colombias," according to The Economist. In Cali, Valle del Cauca, 86 people were rescued with specialized equipment sent from Bogotá, while in Quibdó, Chocó, a lack of machinery and resources hampered rescue efforts Source: infobae. A local resident, Alberto, told the magazine, "The municipality is in bad shape," referring to the absence of equipment to remove debris Source: infobae.

Pragmatic shift

The crisis forced de la Espriella to become more pragmatic than his campaign suggested, the magazine notes. He moved his office from Barranquilla to Bogotá to coordinate the emergency, and he signed a decree declaring a national disaster, with an economic emergency decree forthcoming—measures not in his initial plans, which had focused on reducing the state Source: lasillavacia. The Economist called his refusal to participate in the transition "populist," but acknowledged he reacted faster than the Venezuelan government Source: infobae.